Podcast Summary: Expanding Trauma Informed Mental Healthcare for Mothers, Infants, and Families with Dr. Obianuju Berry

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Date: December 27, 2025
Guest: Dr. Obianuju (Uju) Berry, Medical Director, NYC Health and Hospitals Maternal, Infant and Domestic Violence Mental Health Services
Host: Rosie Talaga

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the current challenges and forward-thinking opportunities in trauma-informed mental healthcare for mothers, infants, and families, particularly within the New York City public health system. Dr. Uju Berry, a child and reproductive psychiatrist and trauma expert, discusses her pioneering work in expanding access, integrating care, and transforming service models to better support vulnerable communities, especially in non-traditional settings. The conversation addresses recent headwinds, models for sustainable growth, meaningful investments in prevention, and visionary strategies for the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Berry’s Background and Mission (00:34)

• Experience & Roles: Dr. Berry holds an inaugural system-wide mental health position at NYC Health and Hospitals, with over 15 years of experience as a child/reproductive psychiatrist, trauma researcher, educator at NYU, and principal investigator on national trauma grants.
• System-Wide Initiatives: She oversees programs supporting pregnant, postpartum individuals and their infants, collaborating with domestic violence shelters and family justice centers.
• Driving Philosophy: A commitment to bridging maternal-infant and behavioral health and reducing trauma morbidity citywide.

“Really just breaking down silos across systems, across agencies, across disciplines. Really treat our New Yorkers who are impacted by behavioral health or other types of traumatic events.”
— Dr. Uju Berry (02:43)

2. Challenges and Optimism for the Future (02:23)

• Current Headwinds:
  • Widespread decreased access to mental health care in 2025.
  • Ongoing disparities in maternal mortality and trauma-informed services.
  • Workforce staffing and retention issues.
• Forward Momentum:
  • Optimistic about 2026, citing increased focus on “integrated, community-centered care” and “collaborative care models” from state mental health agencies.
  • The aim is to address disparities and serve over a million diverse New Yorkers.

“I am really hopeful for 2026...riding this momentum and navigating some of those headwinds...really thinking about taking a deeper eye into some of those disparities that we're seeing in maternal mortality.”
— Dr. Uju Berry (02:23–04:38)

3. Approaches to Growth and Value (05:18)

• Growth Defined as Expansion and Deepening Value:
  • Not just “scaling up” but maintaining and enriching quality.
  • The SIREN Model:
    • Screening (universal)
    • Identification
    • Referral
    • Education
    • N: (N/A—acronym defined verbally as SIREN, components listed in transcript as above)
  • Importantly, SIREN is applied in non-traditional settings: bringing mental health care directly into domestic violence shelters and family justice centers to meet families where they feel safe.
  • Shift from an adult-centered to a family-centered model, prioritizing services for very young children (0–5 years).

“Our team actually goes directly to the families...making sure that when they feel safe physically, we also make sure that they feel safe mentally.”
— Dr. Uju Berry (06:46)

“Ultimately the greatest value that we can actually provide is just breaking the cycle of intergenerational trauma and by intervening early.”
— Dr. Uju Berry (08:35)

• Enhancing Interagency Collaboration:
  • Needed especially when working in non-traditional settings where agencies may “speak a different language.”
  • Invest in communication and empower staff to deliver quality, culturally competent care.

4. Risk and Investment in Early Prevention (09:58)

• Why Early Childhood and Prevention?
  • Investment in co-located, specialized mental health services for children and families in non-traditional settings.
  • Data shows a $13 return for every $1 spent on early childhood mental health.
  • Failing to intervene early incurs societal costs: lost productivity and escalated mental/behavioral health issues in adulthood.

“There’s a risk of not doing anything. There’s a cost of silence that happens when we...leave these young children to be neglected...”
— Dr. Uju Berry (10:49)

• Universal Access via SIREN:
  • Ensures everyone gets screened and referred, moving away from the “squeaky wheel gets the grease” model.
  • Broad community education and system change.

5. Long-Term Vision & Future Opportunities (12:50)

• Shift from Reactive to Preventive Care:
  • Don’t wait for adults to get sick; address root mental health issues in children and even address prenatal maternal stress.

“Don’t wait for adults to get sick, treat kids when they’re young.”
— Rosie Talaga (Host, 15:03, summarizing Dr. Berry’s point)

• Non-Traditional, Community-Based Care:
  • Care must reach people where they are, not just in hospitals.
  • Barriers like transportation disproportionately impact vulnerable groups.
  • Telehealth and community settings offer alternatives, building a seamless safety net citywide.
  • Emphasizes tailored, population-specific strategies.

“The idea is to really kind of grow our future to becoming like a seamless safety net where our city can actually support everyone no matter where they are and where they can get care.”
— Dr. Uju Berry (14:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Changing Systems:
  “You always got to think about growth and adding value, and particularly making sure that the work you’re doing is serving the population that you’re trying to serve. And if not, then you need to grow and add more value.”
  — Dr. Uju Berry (05:22)

• On Meeting People Where They Are:
  “Meeting the patients where they are, whether that be ensuring they’re physically and mentally safe by meeting them at their advocacy centers or their shelters, but then also...meeting them where they’re at as well with that common communication.”
  — Rosie Talaga (08:59)

• On Prevention:
  “For every dollar that is spent, invested in early childhood mental health, we do see return of up to $13 in long term savings care.”
  — Dr. Uju Berry (10:21)

Time-Stamped Key Segments

• 00:34 — Dr. Berry’s introduction and background
• 02:23 — Challenges and shifted optimism for 2026; workforce & disparity focus
• 05:18 — Growth, value, and the SIREN model
• 06:46 — Direct service in non-traditional settings; pivot to family-centered approach
• 09:58 — Discussion of risks, return on investment, and the importance of early intervention
• 12:50 — Future opportunities: Prevention, addressing infant/child and maternal stress, and expanding beyond traditional models
• 14:44 — Vision of a seamless, city-wide safety net for mental health

Tone & Style

Dr. Berry brings energy, optimism (“I’m a glass apple person.” — 05:00), and a commitment to systems change. The conversation is warm, forward-looking, and deeply mission-driven, focusing on hope and practical, evidence-based strategies to transform trauma-informed care.

Summary Takeaways

• Trauma-informed, family-centered mental health care should be accessible in the settings where families actually live and seek help.
• Investing early, especially in childhood and at the family level, prevents trauma’s lifelong impacts and yields high returns for society.
• Multi-agency collaboration and flexible, culturally competent models like SIREN are key for sustainable growth and deep impact.
• Visionary leadership, like that of Dr. Berry, pushes healthcare to move from reactive models to proactive, preventive systems—building a healthier future city one family at a time.